Milton Keynes Celebrates Second Village

28 June 2010

The Mayor and two ExtraCare volunteers joined 90 local older
residents on the Shenley Wood construction site of Milton Keynes'
second retirement village, to unveil a ceremonial foundation stone.
The stone unveiling took place on 25th June, the exact day that
ExtraCare's first Milton Keynes village, Lovat Fields, opened in
2007.

Lovat Fields volunteers, Vera and
Arthur Morton, were selected to lead the second village ceremony,
representing hundreds of older residents across Milton Keynes who
have supported ExtraCare during the past three years.

Vera, a retired teacher, and Arthur, a former print salesman,
live in Bletchley. Thrilled to be selected, Vera said: "It's a real
honour but there are many other local people who have supported the
Charity too - we're just thrilled to have been chosen."

The second Village is being built as a
partnership between Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes
Partnership and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust. The first 184 homes
and the Village Centre are on target to open by Winter 2011. A
further 116 homes are planned as part of a second phase.

ExtraCare is establishing a £1.2m appeal to fund the Village
Centre which will provide affordable social and active
opportunities for up to 500 older residents, families and community
members - many of whom may have little social contact and are frail
with limited means. These facilities can only be provided through
charitable funds raised by the ExtraCare appeal. For more
information about the appeal please contact Ann Allen at ExtraCare
on 07825171546. ann.allen@extracare.org.uk.

- Village Factfile -

Location: The Village is being built on 10 acres
of land in Shenley Wood on the western edge of Milton Keynes

Tenure: Village homes will be available for
outright-purchase part-purchase or rent and will be affordable,
even for those people living in rented property on a minimum state
pension.

Homes: Each property will have its own front
door, kitchen, living room and one or two bedrooms. Many will have
their own balcony.

Communal Facilities: Village homes will surround
a 'village centre' that includes:

A Fitness Gym

Restaurant

Bar Steam Room

Assisted Bathroom

Village Shop

Arts and Crafts Centre

Village Hall

IT/Technology Suite Hairdressing Salon

Library

Quiet Lounge

Relaxation Room

Woodwork Shop

Well-being Centre

Greenhouse

Landscaped Garden Areas

Enriched Activities Room to support people with dementia.
.

Communal Parking Areas

Activity and Community Participation: The Village will offer a
continuous activity programme where residents can establish their
own clubs and run many of the facilities. There will be
opportunities to join subsidised outings which may include trips to
garden festivals, journeys on The Orient Express train, choir
concerts and challenge activities such as abseiling, canoeing and
gliding.

Non-residents (over 55) will be able to join a 'Friends Club' and
access the facilities. Residents' families, friends, as well as
volunteers and community groups representing all age groups will be
welcome to visit the Village and participate in the activity
programme.

Care: A qualified ExtraCare staff team will deliver up to 24-hour
assessed care to a third of residents within their own village
home, supporting residents to live in the Village for life.
Residents will never have to sell their Village home to pay for
care. ExtraCare welfare benefits staff will support residents to
ensure that they are claiming their maximum eligible benefits to
support any care costs.

Partnership Funding: The Village has received £4.85m through
Milton Keynes Partnership and a further £3.5m from The Department
of Health.

Construction Partners: The builder is
Willmott Dixon Group. The architect is Nicol Thomas.